Casks and valve means therefor



March 13, 1962 E. c. LEWIS cAsKs AND VALVE MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 24, 1959 Hi. Ila..

Marchrl, 1962 E C, LEWIS 3,024,800

CASKS AND VALVE MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 24, 1959 5 SheeS-SheeiI 2 51 6|' J 42 32 34 2o 23 22 Q 36 126/ 2y 29 V l 67 sz es 33] M39 l e5 7 371941 40 so 27 3l ,l lo I7 Inventor:-

Erc Crisp Lewis me, MJ M Attorneys March 13, 1962 E, Q LEWIS 3,024,800

CASKS AND VALVE MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 24, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIA H3 7g |20 ll 2 H5 H6 87 |04 lll HO f |05 90 IOO 89 |03 g? o2 lOl 96 l |05 94 J A] FIGA lnventorav Eric Crisp Lewis um, M, Gel/d ll/a@ Attorneys @iii-ice 3 024- dit@ casas Ann varfvr: transats rnnnnron Eric Crisp Lewis, London, England, assigner of one-haii to Alumase Limited, London, England, a British coniu pany Filed .luly 24, i959, Ser. No. 329,289 Claims priority, application Great Britain Aug. 8, 1958 1 Claim. (Cl. E37-209) This invention relates to caslts for containing beer or like beverages and is concerned with that kind of cask that has a compartment for containing beer or the like and another compartment for containing gas under pressure for use in carbonating or aerating the beer or the like and/or for acting on the surface of the latter in dispensing the beer or the like from the cask.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction and arrangement of Cask adapted for use in combination with valve means therefore whilst a particular' object of the invention is to provide such a combination of cask and valve means that is capable of being readily transported and handled and which is siniple to use in the dispensing of beer or like beverages from the Cask. Other advantages will be apparent from the following description.

For simplicity the compartment for containing beer or the like, the compartment for containing gas and the compartment for receiving valve means are respectively re ferred to hereafter as the beer compartment, gas compartment and valve compartment whilst the expression beer is used for brevity and except where specilically mentioned includes within its scope various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including fruit juices and wines.

ln the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE l is a view in axial plane section of a Cask according to this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view on an enlarged scale and in axial plane section of a fluid pressure reducing valve in position in the cask.

FGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE l of a modification, and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the reducing valve employed in FIGURE 3.

Referring to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings a metal barrel or Cask 1 (FIGURE l) should be employed such as cast aluminum mask as shown. The cask i may be produced from two cast halves 2, 2 each includingl an end wall and having a spigotted connection at the largest diameter 3 where they are welded together.

The cask is provided With an internal partition 4 peripherally welded therein at 5 and having a central opening 6 secured in a lluid tight manner as by welding to a tubular part of funnel 7 extending from the normally upper end Wall 9 of the casi; when the latter is employed in the standing position shown. if desired the partition d may be integral with the funnel 7.

The partition 4 and tubular part 7 together with the adjacent parts of the cask i thus define an annular gas compartment 1i?, the interior of the tubular part 7 and the remainder of the casi( interior on the other side of the partition d constituting the beer compartment il which thus extends from end to end of the cask.

The opening i2 at the upper or outer end of the tubular part 7 in the upper end wall 9 is shown closed by an end cover 13 having a releasable fluid tight engagement of the projection and gap type) with a seating ring i4 at said opening l2, the cover i3 having a connector i5 for drawing olf beer from the cask by means of the pipe i6, which connector i5 may embody non-return Valve means.

lnorder to effect regulated passage of gas from the gas compartment il to the beer compartment lll and in accordance with this invention there is provided a further compartment 19 receiving or adapted to receive valve means 2li which is preferably a uid pressure reducing valve.

The compartment i9 and housing 17 therefor for the valve 2f? is shown radially disposed in the cask l for communicating at its inner end with the interior of the tubular part 7 and at its side via a port 2-1 (or a plurality thereof) with the gas compartment l0. The valve conipartment 19 is shown conscisting of a bore 22 and counter bore 23 receiving a valve body 24 of complementary' form of which the reduced portion 2S has a liuid tight tit in the bore 22 of the valve compartment i9 by means of sealing rings 26 whilst the valve body 24 is retained in the counterbore 23 by means of a circlip 27 and closed to the exterior by a plug 29 which may be ot' rubber or plastic material having a removable push tit in the outer end of the counterbore 23, the peripheral rib 30 on the plug 2&9 snapping into the groove 31 in the counterbore 23.

Referring to FIGURE 2 the reduced portion 25 of the valve body 24 has an axial bore 32 carrying by means ot' a mounting bush 33 a non-return valve 34 of the Schrader ination type, a radial bore 35 communicating said axial bore 32 with the port (or ports) 21 to the gas compartment li or with an annular groove 35 in the bore 22 communicating with said port (or ports) 21.

The needle head 37 of the Schrader valve 34 is acted upon by a piston 39 slid-able in a bore 4t) in the larger part of the valve body 24, said bore 4t) together with the piston 39 on the valve side thereof defining a chamber il which communicates with a least one eccentric bore 42 preferably two thereof as shown in the reduced portion 25 of the valve body 24 with an axial bore 43 at the extreme inner end of the reduced portion 25 via a transverse bore 4A. The said axial bore communicates with the interior of the tubular part 7 and hence the beer ccmpartment .il so that the chamber 4l is in constant cornmunication with the latter.

In order to prevent or minimize beer reaching the bores 42, i3 and 44 and chamber 4l a further reduced extremity 4S of the valve body 24 and containing some of the bore 43 is provided with a non-return valve 46 in the form of a rubber cap i7 having a slit i9 therein which allows passage of gas into the beer compartment i1 but prevents or minimises passage of beer or the like in the opposite direction into the valve 20.

The piston 39 is spring loaded by a compression spring 5@ shown abutting a washer Si hereafter referred to against the back of the piston 353 and taking abutment at its other end against a seating washer 52. adjustable axially such as by screw means for varying the spring loading on the piston 39 according to the gas pressure required in the beer compartment 11i. The said seating washer S2 may be simply adjusted by an axial screw threaded in the valve body 24 so as to abut the washer 52 but in the example shown it is adjusted by means of the threaded sleeve 53 and axial pin 54 described hereafter.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the valve 2i? maintains a constant reduced pressure in the beer compartment il despite reduction of the quantity of beer in the latter as it is drawn olf, since, on gas pressure tending to fall in the beer compartment ll the piston 39 is moved against the Schrader valve pin head 37to lift the valve member 34 of the latter and allow gas to pass from the gas compartment iii via the port 2l and bores 35', 32 into the chamber iii and from thence via the bores d2, 4d, 43 `and valve i6 into the beer compartment ii until the required gas pressure is restored in the beer com partment lll.

In order to render the valve 2() inoperative such es when the charged cask is in transit or being handled,

means are provided for relieving the piston 39 of spring pressure.

For this purpose and in the example shown the pin 54 engages the washer 51 at one end by means of a cirolip 55 and at the other or outer end engages by a further circlip 56 the outer face of the disc 57 formed on its inner side with a face cam 59 adjacent its periphery. This face cam 59 co-operates with a further face cam 60 of complementary form on a further disc-like member 61 that is made fast in the valve body 24- `as by means of an end cover 62 lthreaded in said valve body 24.

Threaded in an axial boss 65 to the disc-like member 61 is the sleeve 53 which abuts or carries the seating washer 52 for the spring Si). The inner bore of the sleeve has a portion 63 of square or non-circular form that cooperates with a portion 641 of square section or complementary non-circular section of the pin 54, the arrangement being that on the pin Sal itself being turned the sleeve 53 is lalso turned and by vitrue of its threaded engagement with the boss 65 of the disc-like member 61 advances or retracts axially for the purpose of varying the spring loading on the piston 39 by thus adjusting the seating washer 52.

When it is desired to render the valve 20 inoperative by relieving the piston 39 of spring pressure the disc 57 is rotated by a suitable key (not shown) having a pair of prongs which engage holes 67 in said disc and due to the co-action of the cam faces 59, 60 the disc 57 is moved axially and also the pin 54 with it which now slides through the sleeve 53 without turning the latter. On outward movement of the disc S7 and pin 54 the washer 51 is also moved with the latter lifting the spring 50 away `from the piston 39.

In order to igain access to the disc 57 for turning it, without removal of the end cover 62 the latter is provided with slots 66 curved in a concentric manner relative to the axis of the valve so as to permit suicient angular movement of the key prongs in turning the disc 57.

By such operation of the disc 57 the valve 2G is thus rendered inoperative but can be readily returned to the operative condition by reversed rotation of the disc 57, operation of which does not affect the setting of the valve 2t) when fully restored to the operative condition as determined by the position of the seating washer 52 and sleeve S3.

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 4 the interior of the cask 71 is partitioned into gas and beer compartments 811/ 81 by a partition member or unit 75 which is shown consisting of a tubular or funnel portion 77 which is outwardly directed or ared at one end at 74. The said partition unit 76 may be produced las an aluminium casting and is secured in a iluid tight manner such as by welding in one half of the cask e.g. prior to securing the two halves 72 of the latter together.

The periphery of the flared portion 74 is welded at 75 to the inner wall of its cask half 72 near the largest diameter 73 of the latter whilst the other end of the funnel portion 77 is welded in an opening 87 in the end wall 79 of the cask half 72 and is shown provided with an integral head 88 for this purpose.

As before the outer end of the funnel 77 in the head 88 of the partition unit 76 may be provided with an opening 82 that is closed by an end cover' 83 having a connector S and a pipe 86 and preferably having a releasable fluid tight engagement (eg of the projection `and gap type) with said head 88 or a seating ring therein about said opening 82.

The partition unit 76, or more particularly the funnel portion 77 and head S8 thereof, carries or integrally embodies a housing 99 containing a compartment 89 for receiving reducing valve means 96, said valve compartment 89 communicating the gas compartment 86 via such valve means 90 with the beer compartment 81.

The valve compartment S9 is shown of generally cylindrical form to receive the body 92 of the valve means and has its axis substantially parallel but eccentric to the axis of the cask 71 whilst its outer end is disposed at the partition unit head 88 for access to the valve means 90 in adjusting `the latter or removing it from the valve compartment 89. `If desired and as shown the valve compartment '59 and valve body 92 may be of complementary taper form with the valve body 92 seating on uid tight sealing means 93 within the valve compartment 89.

The partition unit 76 may also carry or embody, again mainly in association with the head 83 and funnel 77 thereof, provision such as a suitable bore 121 for receiving a gas ltling valve 122 for the purposes of changing the gas compartment St) with a suitable gas under pressure.

Such bore 121 is preferably remotely situated in the head S8 in relation to the valve compartment 89 and as shown may be diametrically opposite the latter on the other side of the funnel 77. The gas filling valve 122 may consist of a spring loaded valve member 123 which is pressed away from an internal seating 124 on the application o-f a gas supply connector member.

The reducing valve means 9) preferably consists of a non-return valve 914 of the Schrader inflation type mounted by means of a tubular part or bush 95 therefor either directly in a reduced bore 96 of the valve compartment 89 (as shown) or in a simil-ar part of the valve body 92. ln either case the Schrader valve 94 communicates substantially directly with the gas compartment S0 through `a port 91 in the valve compartment 89.

A suitab-le duct or passageway 97 in the body of the valve compartment housing 99 is right angled or other- Wise directed -to communicate the interior of the reducing valve body 92 with the beer compartment 81 preferably via a non-return valve 106 which as before may simply consist of a rubber cap 107 at the end of said duct 97 and in the beer compartment 81 said cap 107 having a slit 109 which allows passage of gas into the beer compartment 81.

The interior of the reducing valve body 92 contains a chamber 1111 with which both the said duct 97 and the Schrader valve 94 communicate, the usual needle head 1112 of the Schrader valve 94 extending into said chamber 1111 which latter is variably defined by a piston 103 having a uidtight sliding tit in said valve body 92.

Apart from substantially atmospheric pressure the other side of the piston 163 .is subject to spring loading mechanism 101B which urges it towards the needle head 102 of the Schrader valve 94 and the arrangement is such that on the needle head 102 being contacted by the piston 193 to lift the Schrader valve 94, gas passes from the gas compartment tt via the Schrader valve 94, chamber 101 and duct 97 into the b eer compartment S1. Upon the required maximum pressure being attained in the latter such pressure builds back via the duct 97 into the chamber 101 to move the piston against its spring loading means 190 away from the needle head 1112 of the Schrader valve 94 allowing the latter to seat and thus close off the gas supply. In this way and as before it will be appreciated that the valve means 90 maintains a constant reduced pressure in the beer compartment 81 despite reduction of the quantity of beer in the latter as it is drawn off.

In order to adjust the spring loading of the piston 103 and also if desired to relieve it of spring pressure (eg. during transit) an adjustable abutment member 104 for the spring 1195 is provided operable by an adjusting screw 110.

The abutment member 1062- may consist of a plate or disc having a threaded engagement with an axial adjusting screw 110, the plate 104 being axially movable in the valve body 92 but constrained against rotation. For this purpose the plate 11M may have a projection and groove engagement at 111 with the inner wall of the valve body 92.

In order to constrain the adjusting screw 110 against axial movement its outer end is provided with a head 112 located in a bore 113 in a cover 114 to the valve body 92, said cover 114 being removably secured on the latter such as by means of a circlip 115.

The head 112 of the screw 110 which may be of the socket type, is disposed in or through the bore 113 so that it is accessible from the exterior, the screw 110 being constrained against axial movement through the cover 114 such as by means of a ange 116 on the screw head 112 abutting the inner side of said cover 114.

The action of the compression spring 105 acting between the piston 103 and plate 104 thrusts the screw 110 against the cover 114 and thus maintains it against axial movement. Rotation of the screw 110 axially advances or retracts the plate 104 for varying the spring loading on the piston 103 and, if the plate 104 is retracted far enough, the piston 103 may be entirely relieved of spring pressure.

By removing the cover 114 the spring loading mechanism 100 is readily dismantled by simply withdrawing the screw 110, plate 104 thereon, and spring 105.

The exterior of the valve compartment 89 is preferably closed by a cap 120 e.g. of plastic materal in order to enclose or seal the cover 114 and adjusting screw head 112 from the exterior.

In using aV charged cask according to FIGURES 1 and 2 or 3 and 4 at a public house or like establishment the cask is either provided with a beer tap (not shown) e.g. at 69 (FIGURE 1), or connected to a counter tap and due to the constant gas pressure on the surface of the beer in the beer compartment 11 or S1 (as regulated by the reducing valve 20 or 90) beer is forced out under pressure as and when the tap is opened.

The beer or the like in the cask may have been initially carbonated prior to its introduction into the cask or the gas compartment 10 or 80 may contain carbon dioxide arranged to enter the cask beer compartment 11 or 81 at a pressure suicient to carbonate the beer or the like therein. Where the beer has been previously carbonated the gas compartment 10 or 80 may contain air and/ or carbon dioxide or any other desired gas or mixture of gases for acting upon the beer in the beer compartment 11 or 81 for forcing the latter out during dispensing.

The interior of the beer compartment4 11 or 81 should be treated against any undesired action of the beer or the like by any suitable protective material or process for this purpose.

I claim:

A cask of the kind and for the purposes referred to comprising a hollow cask body having side and end walls; a tubular part extending from one end wall sub stantially centrally within the cask for a part ofthe length of the latter and having an open inner end and a normally closed other end; a partition extending outwardly from the open inner end of said tubular part to uid tight connection with the interior of the side walling of the cask so as to dene wholly within said cask and about said tubular part an annular compartment for containing gas under pressure separate from the remainder of the cask interior which latter together with the iterior of the tubular part communicated therewith by said open inner end provides a compartment wholly within the cask for containing beer or other beverage; and a housing wholly within said annular compartment, said housing being directly fast with at least said tubular part and ported for separate communication with the interior of said tubular part and with said annular gas compartment whilst said housing extends to the exterior of the cask and is open thereat; and a iiuid pressure reducing valve bodily and removably received by said housing in a iluid tight manner so as to be wholly contained thereby for separate communication with both the annular gas compartment and with the interior of the tubular part via the porting in said housing for controlling gas ow from said gas compartment to the said interior of the tubular part and the said remainder of the cask interior.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,678 Eckardt Oct. 24, 1899 798,942 Baroch Sept. 5, 1905 938,517 Schmitt Nov. 2, 1909 1,238,271 Crovo Aug. 28, 1917 2,021,367 Louis NOV. 19, 1935 2,180,828 Horansky Nov. 21, 1939 

